Aged 90, died peacefully in Halifax on January 11, 2019 at Parkland at the Gardens Retirement Living Residence, with family at her side. Dorothy was the daughter of the late Gregory and Elizabeth Chisholm of Port Hood and Halifax. She was also the loving wife of 58 years to the late Ralph Maddison. She was a wonderful mother to Greg (Linda), Glen (Monique), Nicole (Ian), and Paul (Fay), and a loving younger sister to Yvonne Campbell, the late Greg Chisholm and Katharine Johnson. Dorothy was also a cherished Nana to Jessica, Keith, Michel, François, André, Sean, Caitlin, Mairin, Audrey and Brendan, and great-grandmother to ten beautiful children, with three more expected this year.
Born in Port Hood on August 9, 1928, Dorothy moved with her family to Halifax in the ‘30s. She and Ralph married in 1948 at St. Theresa’s Church in Halifax. Ralph enlisted in the RCAF, and within 10 years, Dorothy was the mother of four, and had lived in Truro, Lachine, Grostenquin France, and Moose Jaw. It was a hard life for a young wife and mother but it was a good life and Dorothy never regretted a moment, making many life-long friends along the way. She continued to support Ralph’s career through subsequent postings in the 60’s to Chatham (now Miramichi), Metz France, Toronto, and finally Ottawa where they lived for 25 years. Dorothy enjoyed working for much of that time at a legal firm and then a major crown corporation, applying the impressive secretarial and stenographic skills she had mastered as a teenager at St. Patrick’s High School in Halifax. But mostly Dorothy found great joy in raising her family, sharing life’s twists and turns with them, celebrating their successes as adults and welcoming first their partners and then the grandchildren and great-grandchildren that brought her such happiness. Dorothy and Ralph retired to Halifax in 1991 and enjoyed many fulfilling years there together, highlighted by visits with family.
The family would like to thank the senior management at Parkland at the Gardens for their extraordinary support, and as well the entire 3rd Floor team for their exceptional professionalism and compassionate care for Dorothy. She made the final journey home in comfort and embraced by love.
Memorial service will be held on Monday, January 14, 2019 at 10am from Cruikshank's Funeral Home, 2666 Windsor Street, Halifax. Memorial donations in memory of Dorothy may be made to Hospice Halifax.
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